The National tribune., 1887-06-02
''0LD CHICkAMAUGA."
UByailing Of the Bronze Statue Of
Gen. James B. Steedman.

DEAR TRIBUNE: May 26 was memorable
day in the history OF Toledo and the entire
Buckeye State; while Indiana and Michigan
came up TO rejoice that honor bad been given
wlere honor was due. On that day was I'M
vailed the bronze statue, designed by the emf
uent young Ohio sculptor Of National repute,
Alexander Doyle, and erected TO the memory
of Gen. James b. Stecdmau by Col William j.
Finlay, q native of Ireland, and since his
arrival in American citizen Of Toledo. The
day was celebrated by every one of the $4,000
people of Toledo, with not less than $4,000
additional from surrounding States and
Counties. Business houses, schools and banks
were closed, and all classes and conditions of
men Joined in the exercises and ceremonies of
the day. Grand Army Headquarters at Me-
mortal Hall saw a great assemblage of vet
Grams from far and near, met to witness the
honor bestowed upon the typical volunteer
soldier of the Union army. AT IL o'clock
National salute pealed forth from the 4th Ohio
Battery, Capt. o. j. Hopkins commanding This
was the signal for the assembling of the vari-
Gus civic and military commands, to partci-
pate in the grand parade under command of
Col Nat Haughton. At 2 o'clock at the tap of
the High-SchOol bell, the commands wheeled
into line and at $50 were in motion. There
have been longer professions in our city, but
utNtT dUy UldIkGu by SuNu OIuSI anu ullAlldIy
precision. The place of honor was by right
assigned to Col. Paul Edwards 18th Ohio, Gen.
Steedman's old regiment, with Col. III. O..
Neubert, Chief of staff, and the following Aids,
all of the nth Ohio: j. A. Chase, w. Dustin,
d. r. Austin, A. ]. Eyster VI. NJ. GOulden, K.
l.. Skehan, John OCOnner and viii Clark. The
First Division comprised the police, Marshal of
the Day and Staff, artillery, Governors of the
States distinguished guests and disabled sol
dier5 in carriages. Among the guests were
Gov. j. B. Foraker, Of Ohio, and staff; Gov.
Luce, of Michigan, and staff; Ex-GOv. Charles
Foster, Ext President r. b. Hayes, Gen. John
W. Fuller Lieut.-GOv. J. G.. Smith, of Illinois,
Steedman's Chief of staff, and orator Of the
day. Col w. J. Finlay, DIR. S. f. Forbes, ex-
Mayor, and Capt. j. X. Hamilton; Mayor John
+. kumler, Past COmmander-in-Chief kOuntZ,
Judge Henry E. Howe, charter member of the
first GAR. Post; Alexander Doyle, the SCULPTOR
Gems. Gibson, Buckland, Haynes, Vandeveer,
Barnett, Dean, of the 22d Mich, whose regi-
mont was cut to pieces at Chickamauga, and
Comrades Bronson, Pierce, and other hmbless
veterans occupied seats in carriages.
The Second Division was in command Of
Gen. /. Z. Sherwood, and was composed of
GAR. and Sons of Veterans organizations, each
Post headed by handsome banner. The mill
tia made gorgeous appearance, but the veter-
ans excited the greatest enthusiasm by their
superb alignment and sturdy martial stride
First came the remains of the gallant 18th regi-
ment, followed by the Light Guard Band, the
Sons of Veterans, and Rawson Post, GAR,
of Fremont. Brint and Mcbride Post, of
Richfeld WOlfOrd Post OF Perrysburg; Ford
| Post, of East Toledo; Forsyth Post, $50 strong ;
John Howard Post, McComb; LOssier Post
| WauseOn; the Defiance Band and Bishop Post
/ Of Defiance; Choat Post, Of Napoleon, and Nieb-
| lung Post, comprised the rest of the command.
| The Third Division. Maj. Fl. s. Bunker COM
handing, with AdJ5 Merrill as Chief of Staff,
and Mai. ]. Il. Woods Col. l.. F. Lyttle, Capt.
| ?. III. bowling and Maj. W. w. Alcorn, Aids,
made fine appearance, preceded by the City
| Band. Then came Hudsons Band, of Detroit
and the Detroit Light Guards under the COM
mand Of Capt. Dixon; Capt. Rogers, Co. III, 10th
regiment; Capt. Wade, Of Co. G, and Capt.
| Weier, of Co. 4, followed with their commands.
/ Miami Division, *. of p, came next, captained
by Charles Murphy, Sir Knight Commander.
| The Fourth Division was commanded by
| Gen. @. L. Young with Comrades j. B. Bell,
r. ID. Whittlesy, q. w. Bills, II. A. Brown, Al
I bert ClaypOol Charles Caughling and others
Us Aids. The Great Western Band was fol-
| lowed by large delegation of the Catholic
| Knights Of America; the Bayarian Society;
/ the Turner Verein, with white flannel shirts
and gray pants; the Cigarmakers' Interna-
/ tional Union; the Temperance Knights; An
/ Gent Order of Hibernisns; a drum corps, es-
/ COTIil1 Ob. I&tElCh OuNCHllo 1EulpcEduCc
| Society; the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Associa-
| ton.
! Following this division and bringing up in
the rear of the whole procession was James
b. Steedman Post, GAR, of Reed City. Mich.
| These old veterans did not arrive until it was
too late to fall in at their assigned place, but,
nevertheless, they made an excellent rear
| gaard.
The line of march concluded with halt at
/ III fVba fatFaraH en1nr- of kha n
Ohio Veterans, Steedman's old command, were
placed about the pedestal. where sat 30 little
| girls dressed in red, white and blue TO repre-
usent the States, with Miss Della Hopkins repre-
senting Liberty. The grand stand was
crowded with guests and the eonverging streets
were one solid sea Of Humanity as far as the eye
could reach. Hon. John f. Kumler called the
assembly to order, and after prayer by Rev. DIR.
/ Bacon, of Forsyth Post and Oliver Wendell
| Holiness Flower of Liberty" by male
| chorus, introduced Gov. Foraker, President OF
the day. Gov. Foraker paid a handsome tribute
to Gen. Steedman and the generous donor OF
the monument, after which Miss Emma Steed-
man. the 13-year-old granddaughter of Gen.
SteedmIn, and an inmate of the Soldiers and
/ Sailors Orphans Home, cher father, Lieut.,
Steedman, having served on his fathers staff
drew the cord that held the red, white and
blue casing when the form and features OF
"OId Chickamauga" flashed on the view, at
tended by tremendous and loug-continued
cheering. Then followed the address of Mayor
Hamilton, the presentation OF the monument
by Col. Finlay to the city of Toledo, and its
acceptance by the Mayor. At this point it be-
gan to rain, and the Grafton of Gen. j. @. Smith
and the poem of the occasion, written by Mrs
Kate B. Sherwood, and recited by Mrs. Rebecca
Steedman MeCann, We're postponed until the
evening Campfire at Memorial Hall.
Gen. J. G. Lee presided at the evening
meeting, and first introduced Gov. Luce, oil
Michigan, who joined in the euiOgiums o.
the day, and was given three cheers and 8
vote OF thanks. Mrs. Mccain was then in
troduced, and gave a very dramatic rendition
OF the poem with the same fire and spirit thai
characterized her illustriOus relative. Gen
Smith and the Rev. Father O'Brien, of the
Church of the Immaculate Conception-ar
Irish-American vOlunteer-flled up memoir
able evening Father O'Brien is the embOdi
ment of Irish eloquenee.
Gen. Smiths account of his intimate asSOci
alton with Gen. Steedman, his masterly analy
sis of his character, his comprehensive review
Of the salient points in his military character
his convincing arguments to prove that Gen
Steedman moved without orders 20 the support
! of Thomas on the second days fight at Chicka
mauga were simply mastery. IN the audience
were MANY veterans who fought with Steed
.man. and the cheer after cheer from that granC
audience of $500, half of whom were UnioI
soldiers, was worth lifetime to hear.-K. B. s.
Toledo, D.
Good Weird for Texas.
FDrroH NATIONAL TRIRTrNE. While many